SMH Foundation works to support community treasure

Posted by LIVING WELL Magazine on August 4, 2012 in Articles, Health & Fitness, Hospitals, LIVING WELL Television, Louisiana, North Shore

SMH Foundation works to support community treasure

Courtesy SMH Foundation, Northshore LIVING WELL Magazine

For the volunteers who serve on the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation’s board, the driving reason they give of their time and talent is this: They believe a community hospital is a treasure.

To keep the only community hospital in the Greater Slidell area effective, the SMH Foundation assesses needs for equipment and innovative programs at SMH that will improve the community’s health. Through two annual fundraisers and direct donor cultivation, the Foundation has collaborated with the community to raise funds to fill the identified needs.

The result of their efforts is tangible proof of what can happen when community support is as strong as it is for SMH. Here are some recent accomplishments.

  • Helping the SMH Regional Cancer Center fund services aiding the emotional wellbeing of patients as well as obtaining state-of-the-care equipment and treatment options.
  • Creating a special area at the new Women’s Imaging Center for the presentation of women’s medical education programs as well as helping to make it possible for imagining services to be offered in a peaceful, spa-like atmosphere.
  • Supporting Fit as a Firefighter, a summer day camp that builds self-esteem and teaches nutrition and exercise skills to local children who struggle with their weight.
  • Helping the SMH Parenting Center meets the health screening and education needs of more than 5,000 children and their parents.

Of course, there is always a larger wish list than there are funds available. That is what keeps the Foundation board working with SMH staff and the community to make a difference by improving the quality of healthcare and services available to the community.

The SMH Foundation is a private nonprofit 501c3 that works to provide financing for Slidell Memorial Hospital’s programs, including the Parenting Center and the Employee Benevolence Fund, and equipment upgrades at the hospital. For more information, visit the Foundation online at smhfdn.org.